This article will talk about the GATE 2026 CSE syllabus, Subject Wise Syllabus and Weightage. Learn the GATE CSE Subject Wise Weightage 2026 to determine which subjects are crucial for a high exam result. The article will give a detailed view of the percentage-wise topic distributions of the GATE 2026 CSE Syllabus. Let’s go deeper into this article and understand the GATE 2026 CSE Syllabus in detail.
Also learn – Who will conduct GATE Exam 2026
GATE 2026 CSE syllabus, Subject Wise Syllabus and Weightage
The GATE 2026 exam for the CSE branch will be administered by IIT Guwahati in February 2026 (anticipated). To get the best scores possible, candidates who are keen to take this extremely competitive test should make sure they fully comprehend the syllabus and the GATE CSE subject-wise weighting 2026.
A thorough grasp of the Computer Science Engineering syllabus is ensured by learning lesser weighted topics, even though the GATE CSE subject-wise weighting provides guidelines on mark distribution. To ace the GATE 2026 CSE exam preparation, a solid grasp of subject-wise weighting is essential.
GATE 2026 Syllabus
The GATE 2026 Syllabus consists of 3 major sections, and those are General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and Specific Subject Sections. It varies paper by paper, like it can be from the CSE branch, ECE branch, ME branch, CE branch, etc. General Aptitude is common to all types of papers, it contributes to the total of 15 marks. Engineering Mathematics contributes to the total of 15 marks, and the main Specific Subject (CSE, ECE, CE, ME) contributes to the total of 70 marks.
| Section | Marks | Details |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude (GA) | 15 Marks |
|
| Engineering Mathematics | 15 Marks | Included in most engineering papers |
| Specific Subject Section | 70 Marks (approximate) | Varies by paper (e.g., CSE, ECE, CE, ME) – covers core subjects |
GATE CSE Subject Wise Weightage 2026
Subject-wise weightage is significant for the aspirants as it helps the student to prioritise subjects, prepare a proper strategy, and manage their time efficiently.
This gives the sense of responsibility to the students for direction and confidence. This approach increases the chance of efficiency for the student. The table below shows all subjects of computer science and their equivalent weightage.
| GATE CSE Subject Wise Weightage 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Weightage |
| General Aptitude | 15% |
| Engineering Mathematics | 5% |
| Computer Organization | 11% |
| Operating Systems | 10% |
| DBMS | 8% |
| Compiler Design | 4% |
| Computer Networks | 6% |
| Design and Analysis Algorithms | 6% |
| Digital Logic | 4% |
| Discrete Mathematics and Graph Theory | 10% |
| Programming and Data Structures | 12% |
| Theory Of Computation | 9% |
Mark Distribution for GATE CSE – Topic Wise
Below section talks about all the important topics that comes under the Computer Science and Engineering. Discrete Mathematics and Engineering Mathematics contributes to the total of 18 to 21 marks, and then comes the Computer Networks contributes to total of 9 to 11 marks, Algorithms, DBMS, Theory of Computation contributes each of 7 to 8 marks.Digital Logic, Computer Architecture, Operating System contributes each of 6 to 7 marks, and many more. Below table shows in detail about each topics expected marks in CSE branch.
| GATE Topic Wise Mark Distribution for CSE | |
|---|---|
| Subject | Expected Marks |
| Discrete Mathematics | 18 to 21 |
| Engineering Mathematics | 18 to 21 |
| General Aptitude | 15 |
| Computer Networks | 9 to 11 |
| Algorithms | 7 to 8 |
| DBMS | 7 to 8 |
| Theory of Computation | 7 to 8 |
| Digital Logic | 6 to 7 |
| Computer Architecture | 6 to 7 |
| Operating Systems | 6 to 7 |
| Data Structures | 5 to 6 |
| C-Programming | 3 to 4 |
| Compiler Design | 2 to 3 |
Percentage of Questions in GATE CSE – Topic Wise
Below sections shows the percentage wise weightage for all the topics of Computer Science and Engineering. Most Important topics are DBMS and Computer Networks that contributes to the 25% weightage, and the others like C-Programming, Data Structures, Algorithms, Digital Logic, Computer Architecture, Operating Systems contributes about the 20% weightage. Below table shows in detail topic wise percentage in detail.
| GATE CSE Topic Wise Percentage of Questions | |
|---|---|
| Topics | Percentage of Questions |
| C-Programming | 20% |
| Data Structures | 20% |
| Algorithms | 20% |
| Digital Logic | 20% |
| Computer Architecture | 20% |
| Operating Systems | 20% |
| Discrete Math | 20% |
| Engineering Math | 20% |
| DBMS | 25% |
| Computer N/W | 25% |
| Other Topics | 15% |
GATE 2026 Marking Scheme – CSE
GATE 2026 Exam Contains 3 types of questions and those are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions. All these questions have different types of marking scheme.
For every correct answer of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), the candidates are rewarded with +1 marks, and for every incorrect answer its -1/3, and for every correct answer of Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), the candidates are rewarded with +1 marks, and for every incorrect answer its -1/3, and for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions, the +1 and +2 for correct answers and 0 for negative marking. For better understanding of Marking Scheme refer to the below table in detail.
| Computer Science Engineering GATE 2026 Marking Scheme | ||
|---|---|---|
| Question Type | Total Marks | Negative Marking |
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | +1 | -1/3 |
| Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) | +2 | -2/3 |
| Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions | +1 or +2 | 0 |
Benefits of Subject-Wise Weighting Analysis in GATE CSE
There are several benefits to examining the GATE CSE subject-wise mark weighting, which can significantly enhance study techniques and preparation tactics.
By making the most of their time and effort, candidates can attain the best outcomes. The advantages of comprehending the GATE CSE subject-wise weighting are as follows:
- Aspirants are able to effectively organize their study time and effort when they comprehend the GATE CSE subject-wise weighting allocated to each topic.
- In order to guarantee comprehensive covering and a deep comprehension of the most crucial subjects, candidates should prioritize themes with a greater weight.
- Aspirants are guided to concentrate on particular subjects based on their significance by the GATE CSE Subject-wise Weightage Analysis.
- This facilitates a deeper exploration of the fundamental ideas, important equations, and approaches to problem-solving related to high-weighted subjects.
- GATE CSE subject-wise weighting analysis helps candidates efficiently manage their time.
- Candidates can put more attention into high-scoring themes and topics and less into lower-weighted areas if time is limited, and vice versa.
FAQs on GATE 2026 CSE syllabus
What kinds of questions in the GATE 2025 CSE paper will receive a negative grade?
The GATE 2025 CSE paper will contain negative marking for multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
What is the purpose of subject-wise weighting analysis in GATE CSE?
Aspirants can identify the key subjects from the broad computer science curriculum by using the GATE CSE subject-wise weighting analysis.
Which subjects in the GATE CSE syllabus have the highest scores?
Discrete mathematics and engineering mathematics are the highest ranking subjects according to the GATE CSE subject-wise weighting, which assigns them 18–21 marks.
How much weight will the GATE 2025 CSE paper give to general aptitude?
In the GATE 2025 CSE paper, general aptitude will account for about 15% of the total weight.
